Rare Tradition of Swallowing Freshly Pounded Mochi Takes Place in Southern Japan
18:15 JST, November 28, 2023
A unique local tradition of swallowing freshly pounded mochi took place in Shiroishi, Saga Prefecture.
At a festival featuring “mochi susuri” (mochi slurping) on Sunday, eight members of the tradition’s preservation group gulped down the sticky rice cakes without chewing. Each about 30 to 50 centimeters-long and seasoned with sesame and soy sauce, participants swallowed them in less than 10 seconds.
Kosuke Sadamatsu, a member of the group and a town councilor, said he got a start at the practice when he was in junior high school by imitating the adults at festivals.
Seventy-one-year-old Sadamatsu said he swallows mochi every year-end after pounding some. He said, “I’m used to it. I Just keep swallowing without chewing. It nicely slides down my throat.” However, as he had choked twice in the past, he cautioned against people trying it at home, as it can be dangerous.
"Society" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
Cherry tree falls on man on Sanneizaka steps leading to famous Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto
-
Tokyo District Court Rules AI Cannot Be Issued Patents; Law Recognizes Only ‘Natural Persons’ as Inventors
-
Small Animal That Appears to be Mouse Found in Chojuku Bread Products; Some Brands on Same Production Line to be Recalled Voluntarily
-
Earthquake Hits Japan’s Ibaraki, Tochigi, Chiba Prefectures, No Risk of Tsunami
-
Man Repels Bear Attack in Hokkaido by Kicking its Face After Encountering 2 Bears While Sightseeing
JN ACCESS RANKING
- Weakening Yen Adds Complexity to BOJ’s Rate Hike Decisions; Rising Commodity Prices may Impact ‘Virtuous Cycle’ Efforts
- Japanese Seafood Exports to China Sink 57% in FY23; U.S. Becomes Largest Seafood Export Destination
- 70% of Japan Companies to Raise Pay Scales in FY 2024
- 48.6% of Global Patent Applications Related to All-Solid-State Batteries Came from Japanese Firms; Panasonic Tops List
- UNRWA Director Describes Catastrophic Destruction in Gaza; Says Relief Trucks Robbed, ‘People’s Hearts Destroyed’